The Wayside Chapel, located in Potts Point, is an inner city refuge that offers a variety of social programs to the community and Sydney’s marginalised citizens. Environa Studio worked on the premises for close to fifteen years, much of the time pro bono.

The design adhers to practices ethos of ‘Long life, loose fit, low impact’, with the spaces within the building specifically designed to easily enable users to adjust and adapt spaces to meet changing needs over time.

Quoting the AIA Jury, ‘What makes this building stand out has been the additional emphasis on less mainstream aspects of sustainability, including a green roof to grow fruit and vegetable crops for the onsite cafe and the use of colours and materials to influence occupant mood and wellbeing – all based on solid research,’